You don’t have to be staying in a snazzy hotel or have a membership to a pricey private club to take a refreshing dip in a New York City pool. From lesser-known public pools to ones you can access for a daily fee, we’ve unveiled the city’s top swimming spots accessible to the overheated masses.
Courtesy of Gansevoort Park
Astoria Park Pool
NYC Parks / Daniel Avila
With a backdrop of the Triborough Bridge and views of the East River and Manhattan skyline, Astoria Park Pool wins our vote for public pool with the most iconic NYC setting. Located in the thick of Astoria Park in Queens, the pool has 54,450-square-feet of swim space with room for an astounding 6,200 swimmers, making it one of the largest pools in the city. For nearly 100 years, New Yorkers have enjoyed the pool’s cool waters, which are open from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The pool also offers early bird and night owl lap swim hours.
Hamilton Fish Park Pool
NYC Parks / Daniel Avila
A melting pot of cultures, creativity and a rich immigrant history, Manhattan’s Lower East Side (LES) neighborhood is today associated with a burgeoning restaurant and nightlife scene. Many visitors — and locals! — fail to realize the neighborhood is also home to one of the city’s largest and nicest public pools. Built in 1936 using Works Progress Administration dollars, the Hamilton Fish Park Pool facility includes wading and diving pools.
The property’s larger pool measures 100 by 165 feet, and can hold 2,200 swimmers. Thankfully, it’s rarely that packed, though it still provides a popular summer respite. Bring a combination lock for storing valuables. Like Astoria Park, Hamilton Fish is open from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and offers early bird and night owl lap swim hours.
Gansevoort Park Avenue Rooftop Pool
Remember the “Sex and the City” episode where Samantha tries to sneak herself and the girls into the SoHo House pool only to get thrown off the premises? The lesson: don’t be like Samantha. Instead, grab your crew and book the Gansevoort Park’s “OOO” experience. You’ll have access to the hotel’s rooftop pool, where you’ll gape at unbeatable views of New York City’s epic skyline.
Courtesy of Gansevoort Park
Lounge to your heart’s content on a reserved pool bed, while snacking on fruit and sipping ice-cold cocktails. Once you’ve soaked in the sun, treat yourself to a spa treatment at Exhale spa. Of course, the Gansevoort ain’t cheap. At $250 per person, the “OOO” Package includes access to the rooftop pool from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., reserved pool bed on the pool deck, $75 food and beverage credit, that 25% discount at Exhale spa, and complimentary towels and fresh fruit.
The Beach at Dream Hotel Downtown
Courtesy of Dream Downtown
Want to curl your toes in the sand while unwinding high in the Manhattan sky? If the idea sounds like a wacky daydream, it’s not. Enter the Beach at Dream Hotel Downtown. Sprawling across 4,800 square feet of rooftop space, the Beach includes a glass-bottom pool, full-service bar, and an actual sand-filled mini beach.
Accessing the pool is a relatively affordable conquest; $60 gets you a day pass, available Monday through Friday starting at 11 a.m. and Sundays after 2 p.m. Arrive early — lounge chairs are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Food and drinks are served at the adjacent cafe; dig into a plate of pork belly tacos and wash them down with a blueberry mojito.